(An awkward candid shot of me mid-conversation at the opening of The Winter's Tale. 01/23/09)
I'm quirky on film.
That's the lesson that I've learned in my On Camera workshop this week.
On stage, I've played characters all over the place. I've been women and men. Young and old. Strong and weak. Stable and unstable. Sane and insane.
But on film? As soon as you see my face, you know that I'm the slightly weird sidekick. Even at my most serious, people are ready to laugh at me. I have something on film that I haven't yet found on stage: a type.
I guess that's good to know. I'll happily take my place in a little club with Alanna Ubach, Linda Cardellini, Ginnifer Goodwin, Heather Burns, Judy Greer, Kathryn Hahn, and several other actresses that make people ask, "What else was that girl in? She looks familiar..."
My schoolmates immediately commented following seeing my scenes. "There's something about you that is so very castable." "You're so natural on film." "If I were making a movie, I would find a part for you. I would WRITE a part for you."
And then it led to conversations like this one...
Me: It's funny how much quirkier I read on film than I do on stage.
Girl: You're right. On stage, you're so flexible. It's striking how quirky you are on film. One look, and you just know.
Me: Yeah. So much quirkier than I am in real life.
Girl: *silence*
Me: Um, at least, I think I'm quirkier on film than I am in life.
Girl: Uh... Well, yeah...
Me: Oh. *pause* Maybe I'm wrong.
Girl: Um.
Me: Seriously? Am I really THAT WEIRD in life???
Girl: *silence*
It was more than a little uncomfortable.
I've chanted mantras to myself about how I am the Leading Lady in my own life. I remind myself that I am the protagonist in my own story. I made the decision that I will not live as the supporting role in someone else's life. So the moment of realization that no one else sees me as a leading lady was less than pleasant.
Maybe I need to change my look. Maybe I need to look like one of the girls I call "Florida Blondes". The ones who bleach and tease their hair, and go to bars wearing unnaturally frosted pink lipstick, twenty coats of thick black mascara, and next to nothing on their tan-line-lacking bodies. Or maybe I should slick back my hair, wear grey skirted suits, and sensible black pumps. Maybe I should curl my hair into perfect ringlets, apply baby doll blush, and prance around in sundresses. Maybe with a change of costume, I could somehow end up playing a different role...
Why? Because being the quirky sidekick on film may be a good thing, but being that girl in life is a problem.
I'm Ursula in Bye, Bye Birdie. I'm Brunella in Animal House. I'm Cathy in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. I'm the female equivalent to Duckie in Pretty in Pink. I'm the girl who exists on the periphery. I'm the girl whose storyline doesn't get a resolution. I'm the girl who could be left on the cutting room floor without the plot needing a major overhaul. I'm expendable.
Maybe that's why guys only want me sometimes. I'm the consolation prize. I'm the temporary solution. I'm the back-up plan. My type is not the Ingenue, the Lover, or the Leading Lady. When all the cards are dealt, I'm left with the Fool.
And that sucks.
May you not get typecast in life.
~A~
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Unquestionably Quirky
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16 comments:
Acting is not a perfect metaphor for life. There's no such thing. But if you think you're a sidekick, I guarantee you will be.
Write yourself into the lead.
Being quirky can also be a leading lady quality. I like to think I am rather quirky which adds excitement to my life and anyone else with whom I interact with.
I feel like that pretty often. I would say, don't change your quirkiness, just try to find more indie movie-situations where the quirky girl is the lead!
Really? I don't think you're "that weird." Maybe we're equally weird, because you seem normal to me. Or maybe it's because we've known each other for 11 years.
I call bullshit on quirkiness NOT being a good thing in real life. I mean, the Duckie example you used -- EVERYONE LOVES Duckie. Every girl I've ever talked is always pissed that Molly Ringwald didn't choose Duckie.
Think of the other great quirky girls in films: Juno, Amelie, Penny Lane, Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...
Besides, I only ever seem to be attracted to quirky girls. Being cookie-cutter normal would be boring.
Really, the only thing you don't want to be is the villain in your own story.
I am the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of my own life.
what? i dont think you're quirky, I think you have a strong character and it really stands out..:)
ps. you look really great in that pic..
Why not consider yourself Ellen Page/Juno quirky? Or Calista Flockhart/Ally McBeal, Jason Schwartzman/Rushmore, America Farrera, Frances McDormand quirky?
Johnny Depp had to fight to GO from cliche leading man to quirky mofo. It's not about changing yourself to be someone else's leading lady, it's about making your own movie. It will probably be indie.
I dunno. I'd rather be quirky than mundane :)
You look great in that dress!!
Fabulously Broke in the City
"Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver."
Having worked on a novel or five I can tell you that the leading lady has it the worst. She has to have all the drama, and all the crap thrown on her throughout the story. She learns nothing through introspective thought and only learns her lessons when it comes smashing down on her head. It is the other characters that can be filled with wisdom, a solid foundation and be the amazing savior of the lost and confused MC.
But again, like everyone has said, the camera, movies, tv...it does not define you. It flattens you into a 2 dimensional representation of your physical exterior and is no more an indicator of your abilities in life than a dental x-ray is indicative of your health.
Besides I also consider Natalie Portman, Ellen Page, and Drew Barrymore as quirky, and they're doing alright.
i am definitely a quirky one too and i think it's quite alright :)
Everything I would have said has actually already been posted. But I'm here to reinforce it:
Who says the lead can't be quirky? Those are true characters. Often, other leads pretty much just drive the plot forward. We all know you're more than a deus ex machina.
Perspective, miss Angela, perspective.
Being typecast as the ingenue isn't that great either. I'd rather play the quirky roles because then I can have fun onstage! Plus, in Oklahoma in high school, my Ado Annie took all the focus from me (as Laurey) because she was just that good. I think you're that good, regardless if I've never seen you act outside of blackstaff...if you're ever back in Chicago, I need to see a play you do!
Quirky is undeniably attractive.
Maybe you should think in terms of the chick lit novel, rather than acting. Here, the heroines are all quirky, weird, and lovable. Also much more realistic than the stage because we often paint them in our own images.
Other than inspiration, I definitely worry about this too. But you put it so well!
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